District 13 stretches from the Illinois state line to eastern Tippecanoe County, including part of southeastern Lafayette. The district encompasses the cities of Kentland and Remington in the north, Attica and Williamsport in the center and Veedersburg in the south.

The Journal & Courier recently spoke with each candidate about their platforms.

Why are you running for the Indiana State House of Representatives 13th District?

Childress: I am running to be your representative because I feel that things at the Statehouse have become too polarized. What we have ended up with is legislation that has benefited only the few. I look to charge that with bipartisan legislation and working across the aisle for all Hoosiers.

Negele: My depth of experience and education allows me to approach the issues in a logical pragmatic way that provides solutions for constituents, not rhetoric. I have 34 years in the private sector in corporate finance and small business and 13 years in the public sector as clerk/treasurer and state representative.

What is the No. 1 priority for your campaign?

Negele: Well, of course, to win and continue to represent District 13. Maintaining the fiscal integrity of our state finances through the adoption of a structurally balanced budget while continuing to work on legislation that will develop long-term funding solutions for infrastructure needs.

Childress: The No. 1 priority of my campaign is to be a full-time representative for the people of District 13. I intend to make both constituency service and legislative representation my top priorities. I feel that my fellow Hoosiers deserve to see, hear and be heard by their representative.

What other two issue do you believe impact your constituents most?

Childress: Two other issues that I believe impact my constituents are funding for K-12 public schools and the massive increase of the creation, addiction and abuse of hard drugs such as meth and heroin. We need to roll back the school voucher program and invest in local addiction treatment facilities.

Negele: District 13 is primarily a rural district and road funding has proven to be a challenge at the local level. Additionally, there are connectivity challenges. I will continue to work hard on sound fiscal policy solutions that will improve opportunity for growth in District 13.